<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from System
Energy Resources, Inc. financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 
1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial 
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000202584
<NAME> SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 018
   <NAME> SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,454,118
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     92,933
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         394,559
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       494,789
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,436,399
<COMMON>                                       789,350
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             62,070
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 851,420
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,334,186
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   70,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     17,954
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                39,139
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,123,700
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,436,399
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      148,606
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,277
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      76,647
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      76,647
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         71,959
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,658
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  75,617
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,753
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,587
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   24,587
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        23,100
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       17,982
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          62,766
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0